UPS Drivers Receiving New Wireless Computers

ATLANTA, UPS (NYSE:UPS) May 9, 2005 announced the rollout of a new generation driver computer that can "talk" with four different wireless communication systems to speed tracking information to customers.

It's also smaller and lighter than its predecessor, works in color, is easier to use and has an expanded memory that will support some new, more customized services in the near future. Moreover, it's a critical part of a broader technology shift that is allowing UPS to dramatically reduce its fuel consumption while improving route planning, vehicle loading and package delivery.

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"There's really nothing like it," said Dave Barnes, UPS's chief information officer. "This is a key component of a bigger system that we call Package Flow Technology. Our drivers are going to have all the information in their handheld computers to make even more reliable deliveries while driving fewer miles."

The new computer – known as the fourth-generation Delivery Information Acquisition Device or DIAD IV – will be deployed rapidly now that it has undergone more than a year of extensive field testing. Co-developed with Symbol Technologies, UPS expects to deploy 32,000 in the United States and 8,000 internationally by the end of this year. The company plans to have more than 70,000 in use worldwide by the end of 2007.

UPS was the first in its industry to equip drivers with a handheld computer, starting in 1991. Through each successive generation of the DIAD, UPS has accelerated the availability of customer tracking data as well as its ability to communicate with drivers. The latest version continues improvement in those and other areas such as:

Links to the Global Positioning Satellite (GPS) system, which will improve customer service. GPS will give a dispatch center the ability to locate the most convenient driver to respond to an On-Call Pickup, for example. Eventually, the GPS link also will help drivers searching for an unfamiliar address and sound an alert if they're in the wrong driveway for a particular delivery.

The ability to connect real-time with four different wireless networks, including personal (Bluetooth); local (Wi-Fi), and wide area (GPRS or CDMA). The Bluetooth and Wi-Fi capabilities allow the DIAD to access printers and other devices within a UPS facility or with a customer's PC. CDMA is a wide-area wireless network standard used by UPS in the U.S. GPRS is another wide-area network standard used by UPS in the Americas, Europe and Asia.

A color screen that accommodates color-coding of messages to drivers.

Memory of 128 megabytes or 20 times that of DIAD III. UPS will use this expanded memory in the near future to provide new, more customized services to its customers.
"We always talk about this computer in terms of technical improvements, but we never lose sight of what it really means: a new tool for our drivers to offer reliable, one-to-one customer service by putting up-to-date information about each customer's delivery at the driver's fingertips," said Barnes.

"Over the past decade, the DIAD has been the critical customer-facing, front-end device of an integrated global network that's now tracking some 14.1 million deliveries every day. DIAD IV significantly expands the visibility surrounding those packages, and that's going to enable us to offer some nifty new services in the future."

9 millionth package collected as a result of Carrier Pickup Online Notification.

MOVING THE NEEDLE TO 9 MILLION!

Maine customer loves Carrier Pickup Online Notification

Country Knitting of Maine owner Linda Williams “stuck to her knitting” and built a successful home business using the Postal Service. Williams sells yarn and knitting materials on eBay but found that shipping her merchandise was taking much-needed time away from her rapidly growing business.

Madison, ME, Rural Carrier Gary Knight had the answer. He suggested Williams use Carrier Pickup Online Notification to save time. She quickly escalated to three or four Priority Mail pickups a week, shipping as many as 40 boxes a day during busy times of the year.

Along the way, she also captured the honors for mailing the 9 millionth package collected as a result of Carrier Pickup Online Notification.

“I’m saving so much time,” said Williams. “Overall, it’s been a great experience.”

“This option provides us an opportunity to meet the needs of customers like Country Knitting of Maine," says Maine District Manager Elizabeth Johnson. “Carrier Pickup makes it easier for them to do business with us, and that’s key to the future of our organization.”

UPS: Small Business Contest - Win up to $10,000 in cash or shipping !

Small Business Contest

Think your company is the Best Out-of-the-Box Small Business? Tell us why. Submit a 500-word entry outlining why your business should be recognized.

Criteria

All entries will be judged based on three criteria: originality (50%), business implementation (25%) and business results (25%).

The essay entry should describe how your business is original either in its products/services or because of your overall business concept. Also tell us about creative ways in which you have implemented resources (people and money) for best results. While financial results are important, they're not the only results we're looking to recognize. Excellent business results can also include expanding your geographic reach, improving your community or even achieving a better work-life balance for your employees. Here are some examples to show you what we mean.

Mannequin Madness is a great example of a company with originality. Judi Henderson-Townsend founded Mannequin Madness after she impulsively bought 50 used mannequins from a dealer who was closing up shop. Judi's business now ships more than 95 new and gently used mannequins a month to customers ranging from artists to clothing stores and eBay sellers to lawyers with a need to demonstrate gun or knife wounds in court.

The product line (T-shirts and apparel) for David & Goliath is certainly not an original one. However, this small business has succeeded through outstanding implementation of a creative line of edgy, fun characters, such as "Trendy Wendy," on their products. One shirt that reads "Gold Digger" was even worn on the television show, "The Bachelor."

Small businesses can also achieve great results. Gotham City Online is an example of a company showing business results by doubling its sales year over year and just recently expanding its geographic reach to include international sales.

Prizes

The first place winner will receive:

$10,000 cash or $10,000 in free UPS shipping
A Hewlett-Packard computer equipped with UPS shipping and tracking tools
UPS consulting services valued at $5,000
Participation in a national UPS publicity campaign

The second place winner will receive:

$5,000 cash or $5,000 in free UPS shipping
A Hewlett-Packard computer equipped with UPS shipping and tracking tools
Participation in a UPS publicity campaign

The third place winner will receive:

A Hewlett-Packard computer equipped with UPS shipping and tracking tools
Participation in a UPS publicity campaign

Thank you for your interest in the Best "Out-of-the-Box" Small Business contest. Good luck!!

USPS: 2006 Proposed Express Mail Rate Increase

Express Mail
Current					Proposed
Weight (lbs.)	Custom Designed	Next Day & Second Day Post Office to Post Office	Next Day & Second Day Post Office to Addressee		Weight (lbs.)	Custom Designed	Next Day & Second Day Post Office to Post Office	Next Day & Second Day Post Office to Addressee
0.5	$10.70	$10.40	$13.65		0.5	$11.30	$10.95	$14.40
1	14.90	14.60	17.85		1	15.70	15.40	18.80
2	14.90	14.60	17.85		2	15.70	15.40	18.80
3	18.10	17.80	21.05		3	19.10	18.75	22.20
4	21.25	20.95	24.20		4	22.40	22.10	25.50
5	24.35	24.05	27.30		5	25.65	25.35	28.75
6	27.45	27.15	30.40		6	28.95	28.60	32.05
7	30.50	30.20	33.45		7	32.15	31.85	35.25
8	31.80	31.50	34.75		8	33.50	33.20	36.65
9	33.25	32.95	36.20		9	35.05	34.75	38.15
10	34.55	34.25	37.50		10	36.40	36.10	39.50
11	36.25	35.95	39.20		11	38.20	37.90	41.30
12	38.90	38.60	41.85		12	41.00	40.70	44.10
13	40.80	40.50	43.75		13	43.00	42.70	46.10
14	41.85	41.55	44.80		14	44.10	43.80	47.20
15	43.15	42.85	46.10		15	45.50	45.15	48.60
16	44.70	44.40	47.65		16	47.10	46.80	50.20
17	46.20	45.90	49.15		17	48.70	48.40	51.80
18	47.60	47.30	50.55		18	50.15	49.85	53.30
19	49.05	48.75	52.00		19	51.70	51.40	54.80
20	50.50	50.20	53.45		20	53.25	52.90	56.35
21	51.95	51.65	54.90		21	54.75	54.45	57.85
22	53.40	53.10	56.35		22	56.30	55.95	59.40
23	54.90	54.60	57.85		23	57.85	57.55	60.95
24	56.30	56.00	59.25		24	59.35	59.00	62.45
25	57.70	57.40	60.65		25	60.80	60.50	63.95
26	59.20	58.90	62.15		26	62.40	62.10	65.50
27	60.60	60.30	63.55		27	63.85	63.55	67.00
28	62.10	61.80	65.05		28	65.45	65.15	68.55
29	63.55	63.25	66.50		29	67.00	66.65	70.10
30	65.00	64.70	67.95		30	68.50	68.20	71.60
31	66.45	66.15	69.40		31	70.05	69.70	73.15
32	67.95	67.65	70.90		32	71.60	71.30	74.75
33	69.30	69.00	72.25		33	73.05	72.75	76.15
34	70.85	70.55	73.80		34	74.70	74.35	77.80
35	72.20	71.90	75.15		35	76.10	75.80	79.20
36	73.75	73.45	76.70		36	77.75	77.40	80.85
37	75.40	75.10	78.35		37	79.45	79.15	82.60
38	77.20	76.90	80.15		38	81.35	81.05	84.50
39	78.95	78.65	81.90		39	83.20	82.90	86.30
40	80.75	80.45	83.70		40	85.10	84.80	88.20
41	82.55	82.25	85.50		41	87.00	86.70	90.10
42	84.40	84.10	87.35		42	88.95	88.65	92.05
43	86.10	85.80	89.05		43	90.75	90.45	93.85
44	87.85	87.55	90.80		44	92.60	92.30	95.70
45	89.45	89.15	92.40		45	94.30	93.95	97.40
46	90.80	90.50	93.75		46	95.70	95.40	98.80
47	92.45	92.15	95.40		47	97.45	97.15	100.55
48	93.90	93.60	96.85		48	98.95	98.65	102.10
49	95.30	95.00	98.25		49	100.45	100.15	103.55
50	96.80	96.50	99.75		50	102.05	101.70	105.15
51	98.40	98.10	101.35		51	103.70	103.40	106.80
52	99.80	99.50	102.75		52	105.20	104.85	108.30
53	101.35	101.05	104.30		53	106.80	106.50	109.95
54	102.80	102.50	105.75		54	108.35	108.05	111.45
55	104.30	104.00	107.25		55	109.95	109.60	113.05
56	105.85	105.55	108.80		56	111.55	111.25	114.70
57	107.30	107.00	110.25		57	113.10	112.80	116.20
58	108.85	108.55	111.80		58	114.75	114.40	117.85
59	110.45	110.15	113.40		59	116.40	116.10	119.50
60	112.20	111.90	115.15		60	118.25	117.95	121.35
61	114.10	113.80	117.05		61	120.25	119.95	123.35
62	115.85	115.55	118.80		62	122.10	121.80	125.20
63	117.55	117.25	120.50		63	123.90	123.60	127.00
64	119.50	119.20	122.45		64	125.95	125.65	129.05
65	121.20	120.90	124.15		65	127.75	127.45	130.85
66	123.10	122.80	126.05		66	129.75	129.45	132.85
67	124.80	124.50	127.75		67	131.55	131.20	134.65
68	126.70	126.40	129.65		68	133.55	133.25	136.65
69	128.45	128.15	131.40		69	135.40	135.05	138.50
70	130.25	129.95	133.20		70	137.30	136.95	140.40
Notes:					Notes:
1. Same Day Airport service is currently suspended.					1. Same Day Airport service is currently suspended.
2. The 1/2-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.					2. The 1/2-pound rate is charged for matter sent in a flat-rate envelope provided by the USPS, regardless of the actual weight of the piece.

UPS Acquires Overnite Corp Trucking Company

UPS Adds Ground Freight Options By Acquiring Overnite Corp.

ATLANTA, May 16, 2005 – UPS (NYSE:UPS) and Overnite Corporation (NASDAQ: OVNT) today jointly announced a definitive agreement for UPS to acquire Overnite for US$43.25 per share, or approximately US$1.25 billion in cash.
The transaction will allow UPS to expand its service portfolio by offering a variety of less-than-truckload (LTL) and truckload (TL) services to its North American customers. It also will immediately position UPS as a top U.S. LTL carrier and comes just five months after the company expanded its air freight services by acquiring Menlo Worldwide Forwarding.

The acquisition, expected to close during the third quarter of 2005, is an all-cash transaction that will require regulatory approvals and the approval of Overnite's shareholders. The Overnite Board of Directors has unanimously approved the agreement and recommended approval by its shareholders.

Based in Richmond, Va., Overnite reported net income of US$63.3 million in 2004 on revenue of US$1.65 billion. The carrier serves more than 60,000 customers in the LTL and TL segments with operations in the U.S., Canada, Mexico, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

"Overnite is a perfect strategic fit for our company," said Mike Eskew, UPS chairman and CEO. "We want to offer our customers the broadest portfolio of transportation and logistics services available from a single source and this is an important capability that we needed to have.

"Overnite is a successful, well-run company with excellent growth prospects and has a strong culture and world-class employee base that complement our organization," Eskew added.

Overnite's management team is expected to remain in place to run the business.

"This is an exciting time for Overnite and its customers and employees," added Leo Suggs, Overnite's chairman, CEO and president. "We are pleased that UPS recognizes our commitment to quality service, our broad nationwide coverage and a trained and motivated workforce. We are confident in our ability to help UPS broaden its diverse service portfolio to its customers."

With the addition of Overnite, UPS will become a top motor freight carrier with expanded services that will help customers more easily synchronize the movement of goods, information and funds. The single-source solutions offered by UPS now will include a full suite of heavy freight services via air, ground and ocean.

Overnite Corp. is one of America's leading less-than-truckload carriers with a 70-year heritage. Its principal operating company, Overnite Transportation Company, operates in all 50 states, Canada, Puerto Rico, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and Mexico. Its other operating company, Motor Cargo, is a regional less-than-truckload carrier primarily serving the western United States, Canada and Mexico. Together, they form one of the largest less-than-truckload carriers in the United States with over 200 service centers and 14,200 employees.

USPS: Shippers to receive “Thank you” cards

CARDING CUSTOMERS

Shippers to receive “Thank you” cards

Business customers everywhere are interested in learning more about shipping with the Postal Service — thanks to recent advertising and Business Connect activities.

Because of the increased interest, volume and revenue generated, USPS wants to deliver an important message to customers — “Thank you for shipping with the United States Postal Service.”

That’s why every Post Office will receive “thank-you” cards to be handed out to customers shipping packages next week.

The cards feature San Mateo, CA, Retail Associate Juvy Bodestyne and a “thank-you” message on front. The back of the card introduces easy-to-use solutions such as online shipping, Carrier Pickup Online Notification and Flat-Rate Priority Mail boxes.

The cards are addressed to postmasters, and station and branch managers with the words “Important Customer Communication Enclosed” printed on the outside of the package. Distribute these thank-you cards to retail associates so they can give them to customers shipping packages during the week of May 16-20.

As they hand the card to the customer, ask them to say, “Thanks for shipping with the United States Postal Service!”

Let your mail follow you: Premium Forwarding designed for today’s mobile society

Let your mail follow you

Premium Forwarding designed for today’s mobile society

If “On the Road Again” could be your theme song, a new USPS service is designed just for you.

The Postal Service’s Board of Governors approved a two-year test of USPS Premium Forwarding Service, a personalized service for residential customers to send mail from a primary address to a temporary address using Priority Mail.

“Customers won’t have to wait for important correspondence and favorite magazines until they return home,” said Pricing and Classification V.P. Stephen Kearney.

Under the new service the Postal Service boxes and reships mail once a week for periods of at least two weeks and up to one year. There is a $10 enrollment fee and a $10 charge for each weekly shipment.

“Convenience to the customer is key,” said Product Development V.P. Nick Barranca. “You may be away from home, but your mail doesn’t have to be.”

The Postal Rate Commission approved the proposal in April. Premium Forwarding Service is expected to begin Aug. 7.

VONZELL SOLOMON, AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST AND MAIL CARRIER

FANS OF AMERICAN IDOL FINALIST AND MAIL CARRIER VONZELL SOLOMON CAN SAY "CONGRATULATIONS" VIA USPS.COM

WASHINGTON—Internet savvy fans can extend their kudos to American Idol finalist and Postal Service mail carrier Vonzell Solomon through her exclusive 90210 Post Office Box directly from usps.com. Thanks to a new customized card featured on NetPost CardStore, the Postal Service is making it easy to "connect the connected" through the internet and fans can now send congratulatory wishes to Vonzell with just a click of the mouse.

Last week, a post office box at the Beverly Hills Post Office was opened to make it easy for fans to extend congratulations and support to Vonzell—a Rural Carrier from Fort Myers, Florida. Going a step further, a special card has been designed to make it convenient for fans using the internet to congratulate their idol for her continued success on the show and to offer encouragement during the remaining weeks of the competition.

"The nearly 120,000 men and women of the United States Postal Service who are dedicated to delivering the mail to rural America salute their idol," said Dale A. Holton, President of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association. "Many of them undoubtedly tune in every week to watch, cheer for and vote for Vonzell. I'm now asking all of my fellow postal employees and their families who support Vonzell to vote and make her America's idol!"

Rural Carriers represent a portion of the 700,000 total employees of the U.S. Postal Service — each are dedicated to providing the best service possible to the American people.

Fans who want to use NetPost CardStore to send Vonzell a card offering their congratulations and words of encouragement just need to log onto www.usps.com/cardstore and complete an easy registration process. The card is located in the Personal Collection under "congratulations," and fans have the option of sending a 5x7 folded greeting card or a 5x7 postcard for the same postage. Simply follow the directions on the site to create the card and choose from a variety of fonts, sizes and colors to convey a special message.

Vonzell's address is:

VONZELL SOLOMON
C/O POSTMASTER
P.O. BOX V
BEVERLY HILLS, CA 90210-9998

When entering address information, enter her name in the "primary contact" space and enter "C/O POSTMASTER" beside "Job Title," and enter the PO Box, City, State and ZIP information where prompted.

NetPost CardStore is the Postal Service's quick, easy, convenient service featured online at www.usps.com/cardstore that makes it possible for users to create greeting cards electronically and they are then printed and sent as First-Class Mail. Using NetPost CardStore, users can sit down in front of their computer and design personalized greeting cards complete with a family photo or a specially designed graphic-or they can choose from thousands of designs already there. Sending a greeting card is as easy as clicking a mouse!

STAMPS, USEFUL WORKS OF ART

USEFUL WORKS OF ART. NC State Magazine reports that stamps “might be the most useful — and the most used — works of American art. About 44 billion were printed last year, passing through our mailboxes affixed to the corners of bills and invitations and holiday cards.” NC State College of Design Professor Meredith Davis, who recently served on the Citizens’ Stamp Advisory Committee, agreed. “I don’t know another design activity that reaches so many people,” she said.

USPS: INNOVATOR WITH IMPACT.

INNOVATOR WITH IMPACT. The April issue of Folio, a periodical for magazine publishers, features Pricing and Classification VP Stephen Kearney as one of 40 “industry innovators with impact.” Kearney said USPS has increased productivity in recent years, and is working to help magazines do the same. One example is co-palletization, which helps smaller publishers and printers save time and money by shipping periodicals from closer to their final destination. “Eventually, everybody will be co-palletizing or co-mailing,” Kearney said. “We think that’s the wave of the future.”